Hanger receptacle and garment suspension apparatus employing the same



Sept. 19, 1967 R. A. MAGNUSON 3,342,344

HANGER RECEPTACLE AND GARMENT SUSPENSION APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME Filed July 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOFA/EVJ'.

Sept. 19, 967 R. A. MAGNUSON 3,342,344

HANGER RECEPTACLE AND GARMENT SUSPENSION APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 15. 1966 n/z/z/vme. Fag/W011i 4; W?

pram/4 United States Patent 3,342,344 HANGER RECEPTACLE AND GARMENT SUS- PENSION APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME Raymond A. Magnuson, Hinsdale, 11]., assignor to Vo gel- Peterson Co., Elmhurst, 111., a corporation of IlllllOlS Filed July 15, 1966, Ser. No. 565,441 28 Claims. (Cl. 211-113) The present application is a continuation-in-part application based on the co-pending application of Raymond A. Magnuson, Ser. No. 504,531, filed Oct. 24, 1965.

The present invention relates in general to garment suspension apparatus and, more particularly, to garment suspension apparatus of the type employing slidable, yet captive, hanger receptacles. In its principal aspects, the invention is concerned with an improved highly versatile hanger receptacle which is so formed as to minimize the danger of accidental dis-lodgment of garment hangers and their suspended garments, particularly at those times when a garment suspended from an adjacent hanger is being removed from the rack or other suitable garment suspension system.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide an improved hanger receptacle and support therefor which is characterized by its versatility in that it will accommodate instantaneous and reliable support for virtually any of the garment hangers presently available on the market, viz., Y type hangers, ball type hangers, or conventional hangers having rounded hanger hooks. As the ensuing description proceeds, it will become apparent that the invention will also find particularly advantageous use in conjunction with a wide variety of different types of garment suspension systems including not only the institutional type of knock-down or portable garment racks such as that described and claimed in the aforesaid co-pending application, but also the more permanent garment suspension systems of the type commonly found in motels, hotels, and private residences.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved general purpose molded hanger receptacle which is characterized by its simplicity and which permits ease of manufacture, even on a mass-production basis, from readily available inexpensive materials. In this connection, it is an ancillary object of the invention to provide an improved hanger receptacle of the foregoing type which is economical.

In another of its important aspects, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved general purpose hanger receptacle which is so shaped as to minimize and, indeed, substantially preclude, the danger of accidental dislodgment of a hanger therefrom, particularly when one is removing a garment and its supporting hanger from an adjacent receptacle in tightly packed storage facilities.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improved hanger receptacle which is so arranged as to provide positive means for retaining hangers captive, yet which is characterized by its one piece construction and by its lack of any moving parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view here depicting two identical hanger receptacles embodying the features of the present invention which are slidably mounted in different angularly related positions Within a fixed support track, only a portion of such track being shown;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one of the hanger receptacles shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the hanger receptacle of the present invention, here viewed from the left side of FIG. 2 and depicting, in phantom form, three different positions of the support component of a conventional hanger stem;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of a slightly modified hanger receptacle construction also embodying the features of the present invention, the modilied receptacle here being shown as slidably mounted on a generally round tubular support, a fragmentary portion of the latter being depicted in phantom;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 6, of yet another modified hanger receptacle construction embodying the features of the invention, the receptacle here being illustrated as slidably mounted on a fixed support made of square tubular stock, a fragmentary portion of such support being shown in phantom; and,

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c are elevational views, similar to the view shown in FIG. 2 but on a reduced scale, here respectively depicting the stems of (a), a conventional rounded hanger hook, (b), a ball type hanger hook, and (c), a Y type hanger hook, all supported in the form of receptacle shown in FIG. 1.

While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the dr'awings,there are illustrated in FIGURE 1 a pair of hanger receptacles embodying the features of the present invention, one of which is generally indicated at 10 and the other of which is generally indicated at 10. As here shown, the receptacles 10 and 10' are identical in construction, each including a head portion 11 and a body portion 12 integral with and depending from the head portion. As the ensuing description proceeds, it will become apparent that the present invention will find particularly advantageous use with a large variety of difierenttypes of garment supporting apparatus. However, for purposes of understanding the form of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, it will be observed that the receptacles 10, 10' are here suspended from a fixed structural member, generally indicated at 14, which can be aflixed to the lower surface of any desired stationary component such, merely by way of example, as a closet ceiling or shelf (not shown). Alternatively, the member 14 could compose a portion of a hanger rail in a knock-down or portable garment rack such as that shown in the aforesaid co-pending application.

In the illustrative form of the invention shown in FIGS. l-4, provision is made for permitting longitudinal sliding movement of the receptacles .10, 10' relative to the struc tural member or support 14, while at the same time permitting mounting of the receptacles in a wide range of different angular positions relative to one another and to the support 14, for example, in the relative angular positions shown in FIGURE 1 where the receptacle 10' is turned to the right as compared with the position of the receptacle 10. To this end, the exemplary support 14 is formed with a longitudinal top panel 15 having a pair of longitudinally disposed depending side flanges 16 which converge towards but terminate short of one another. The arrangement is such that the top panel 15 and its side flanges 16 define an inverted channel 18 or track having a dovetail configuration.

Inorder to permit positive support of the receptacles 10, 10' from the member 14 while at the same time ac commodating relative sliding movement therebetween, the head portion 11 of each receptacle is shaped so as to be complemental to the inverted dove-tail channel 18. In the illustrative construction, the head portions 11 are frusto-pyramidal in shape with their oppositely facing pairs of walls adapted to rest on the uppermost faces of the track flanges 16 with freedom for sliding movement. Thus, it will be appreciated that in the arrangement shown the receptacles 10, 10' can each be mounted in the track 18 in any selected one of four different positions, viz., facing to the front, rear or either side. As here shown, the receptacle 10 faces to the front, While the receptacle 10' faces to the right. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the receptacle head portions 11 could have other shapes than that illustrated in FIGURE 1 and still be suitable for mounting in a track similar or identical to the track 18. For example, the head portion 11 could be frusto-conical in configuration (not shown), in which event each receptacle could be slidably mounted in the track 18 with freedom for rotation in either direction about its own axis through angles up to 360 so as to position the receptacle in any desired angular position relative to the track and adjacent receptacles. Consequently, it is in this broader context that the term frusto-pyramidal is used herein and in the appended claims.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, provision is made for permitting selective suspension of any of a wide range of different types of conventional hangers from each receptacle 10, viz., ball type hanger, Y type hangers, or hangers employing the more conventional rounded hanger hook. To accomplish this, the body portion 12 of each receptacle is generally cagelike in configuration, having a front wall 19, back wall 20, side walls 21, 22 and a bottom wall 24, the five walls of the body portion 12 together with the integral head portion 11 defining a hollow box.

In order to permit suspension of conventional garment hangers of the type having generally rounded hanger hooks pursuant to one of the principal objectives of the invention, the side walls 21, 22 are provided with vertically elongate openings 25 which communicate with the hollow interior of the cagelike receptacle 10. As best illustrated in FIG. 8a, the arrangement is such that when one wishes to hang a garment draped on a conventional hanger 26 having a stem 28 shaped to define a rounded hanger hook 29, it is simply necessary to insert the hook through the openings 25 in the side walls 21, 22,. whereupon the hook rests on the bottom wall 24 of the receptacle. Assuming that the hanger 26 and its rounded hook 28 lie in a common plane as shown in FIG. 8a and as is conventional with this type of hanger, it will be appreciated upon reference to FIGURE 1 that if the receptacle is disposed in the position shown at 10, the hanger 26, and hence the suspended garment (not shown), will be generally in the vertical plane containing the longitudinally disposed track 18. However, if the storage facilities are such that it is desirable to hang garments in parallel vertical planes normal to the vertical plane containing the tracki.e., in positions extending transversely of the track then it is simply necessary to remove the receptacle 10, rotate it 90 about its own vertical axis, and return it to the track where it then occupies the position 10a shown in FIGURE 1.

In carrying out the present invention, provisions are also made for permitting suspension of ball type and Y ty-pe hangers from the receptacle 10. To this end, and as best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and conjointly, an additional opening, which here takes the form of a relatively narrow vertical slot 30, is formed in the front wall 19, the slot 30 lying in a vertical plane generally normal to the vertical plane containing the slots 25. The portions of the wall 19 which define the upper end of the relatively narrow slot 30 are flared or diverge outwardly, as indicated. at 31 in FIG. 2, so as to define an enlarged mouth 32 in the front wall 19. In order to permit suspension of hanger stems approximately on the vertical axis of the receptacle 10, a relatively narrow slot 34 is formed in the bottom wall 24, the slot 34 defining a horizontal continuation of the vertical slot 30.

It will be observed upon reference to FIG. 81), that the foregoing arrangement is such that the hanger receptacle 10 readily accommodates reception and suspension of a conventional ball type hanger 35 of the type having a vertical hanger stem 36 topped by a hanger support ball 38. Thus, the relatively narrow slots 30, 34 are sufficiently wide to permit passage of the hanger stem 36, but sufiiciently narrow to prevent passage of the enlarged hanger support ball 38. In use, it is simply necessary to insert the hanger stem 36 through the slots 30, 34 while inserting the support ball 38 through the enlarged mouth 32 in the front wall 19 of the receptacle 10. The hanger 35 is then lowered until the support ball 38 rests on the upper surface of the bottom wall 24, whereupon the hanger 35 is securely retained captive Within the receptacle 10. Of course, it will be appreciated that since the hanger 35 employs an upright stem 36 topped by a ball 38, the hanger can be swiveled about the stem axis irrespective of the angular position of the receptacle 10 relative to the track 18 (FIGURE 1).

Consistent with the principal objectives of the present invention, the foregoing structural arrangement also permits suspension of Y type hangers from the receptacle 10. Referring to FIG. 80, it will :be observed that such a Y type hanger is depicted at 39, the hanger having a vertical or upright stem 40 topped by a cross-piece 41. The stem 40 and cross-piece 41 define what is commonly referred to in the art as a Y type hanger support. The manner of mounting the Y type hanger 39 is identical to that previously described in connection with the ball type hanger 35 of FIG. 8b. Thus, in this case the cross-piece 41 is inserted through the receptacle month 32 while the stem 40 is passed through the slots 30, 34. Thereafter, the hanger 39 is lowered until the cross-piece rests on the bottom wall 24 of the receptacle.

Those experienced in the art of garment storage will appreciate that a significant problem commonly encountered in crowded storage facilities has heretofore resided in the tendency for hangers and their suspended garments to be unintentionally shifted upwardly and away from their supporting element when an adjacent garment is removed. This problem usually results from frictional forces encountered between adjacent, closely packed garments when one is intentionally lifted off its support, and it has, on occasion led to damage to the adjacent garment which often drops to the floor. To resolve the difficulty noted above, the front wall 19 of the receptacle is inclined rearwardly towards its upper end that is, the wall 19 lies on a plane A (FIGS. 3 and 4) which slopes away from the vertical plane B passing through and containing the lower portion of the front wall, the two planes having an included ange a. As a consequence of this construction, even if frictional forces are developed which tend to accidentally shift the support ball 38 (FIG. 8b) or cross piece 41 (FIG. 80) of an adjacent hanger upwardly and forwardly, such forces will tend to project the hanger support element (i.e., either the ball 38 or the cross-piece 41) into the rearward sloping interior surface of the front wall 19 at a point disposed below the mouth 32, for example, in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in broken lines at 424: in FIG. 3. Such action will tend to cause the hanger support element to rebound or carom away from the front the front wall 19 and its mouth 32 towards the rear wall 20, from whence the hanger support element is free to drop back into its normal rest position diagrammatically illustrated at 42b (FIG. 3).

In accordance with another of the important aspects of the present invention, provision is made for positively displacing the support elements 38 (FIG 8b), 41 (FIG. 80) of any inadvertently shifted hanger away from the receptacle mouth 32, thus further enhancing the effect created by sloping the front wall 19 rearwardly as de scribed above, and thereby precluding, or at the very least, substantially minimizing the danger of accidental dislodgment of a suspended garment. To accomplish this, hanger deflectors, which here take the form of ribs 44, are formed on the inner surfaces of the front wall 19 and, preferably, also on the inner surface of the rear wall 20. Referring to FIGS. 1-5 conjointly, it will be observed that two sets of ribs 44 are formed on the front wall 19 of the exemplary receptable 10, and one set of ribs 44 is formed on the rear wall 20, with all of the ribs projecting into the hollow interior of the cagelike body portion 12 of the receptacle.

In use, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the ribs 44 on the rear wall 20 and the lowermost set of ribs 44 on the front wall 19 project towards but terminate short of one another, such ribs being located in a common horizontal plane disposed above the bottom wall 24 and in the region of the upper surface of the hanger support element 38 (FIG. 8b), 41 (FIG. 80). The front and rear ribs are spaced apart sufliciently to permit freedom for unimpeded vertical movement of the hanger support elements provided that such movement is purely vertical or substantially so. However, if the vertical movement is accompanied by either a forwardly or rearwardly directed component of motion, the hanger support element will tend to strike the respective ones of the front or rear ribs, thus serving to impede vertical movement of the hanger. For example, if there is a tendency for the hanger support element to shift upward and forward from the position indicated at 4212 (FIG. 3) to the position indicated at 420, it will be observed that the lowermost ribs 44 on the front wall 19 will engage the support element and tend to keep it captive at the bottom of the receptacle. Similarly, in the event that the hanger support element does pass upwardly through the lowermost rib sets, and is accidentally shifted towards the mouth 32, it will tend to strike the uppermost ribs 44 which are formed on either side of the slot 30 just below the mouth 32, as indicated diagrammatically at 42a. When this occurs", the ribs 44 will tend to displace the hanger support element away from the mouth 32, thus again preventing accidental hanger dislodgement. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there has hereinabove been described a novel general purpose hanger receptacle which will find particularly advantageous use with garment suspension apparatus of the type having a fixed support 14 which defines an inverted groovelike track 18. However, it will be understood that the invention can also be used with other types of fixed hanger supports such, merely by way of example, as conventional wooden or pipe-like hanger rails of the type commonly employed in closets found in private residences. To facilitate an understanding of how the invention :might be applied to such other types of garment suspension systems, there are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 two slightly modified types of hanger receptacles 45, 46 which also embody the features of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be observed that the modified form of hanger receptacle 45 there illustrated includes a body portion 12 identical to the body portion of the receptacle shown in FIGURE 1. However, in this instance, the receptacle 45 is adapted for slidable support on a generally round hanger rail, depicted in phantom at 48. While the exemplary rail 48 is here shown as tubular or pipelike, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it could, if desired, be formed of suitable solid rod stock, for example, wood or metal. To permit such mounting,

head portion 55 having a semi-square the receptacle 45 includes a head portion 49 having a horizontally extending bore '50 passing therethrough. The bore 50 is of sutficient diameter to permit slidable reception of the hanger rail 48. In order to prevent rotation of the receptacle about the axis of the rail 48, a suitable tongue and groove arrangement is provided. In the exemplary arrangement, the rail 48 is provided with a longitudinally disposed keyway or groove 51 adapted to slidably receive a complemental tongue or key 52 formed in the head portion 49 and extending longitudinally of the bore 50.

Referring next to FIG. 7, there has been illustrated a further modified receptacle 46 which is similar to the receptacle 45 of FIG. 6, but which is here adapted for slidable mounting on a square or semi-square hanger rail 54. Again, while the rail 54 is shown for purposes of illustration as formed of tubular stock, it will be understood that it could be made of suitable solid stock. Moreover, while the exemplary rail 54 has been shown as square, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it could have a wide variety of other cross-sectional configurations and still serve to slidably support the receptacle 46 while preventing rotation of the latter about the axis of the rail. For example, the rail could be rectangular, triangular or polygonal; or it could be elliptical, or even round with a longitudinally extending flat formed thereon. Consequently, it is in this broad context that the term semi-square has been used herein and in the appended claims, viz., to signify a cross-sectional configuration other than round. As shown in FIG. 7, the receptacle 46, which again includes a body portion 12 identical to the body portion of the receptacle 10 shown in FIGURE 1, is provided with a bore 56 extending therethrough, the bore 56 and the rail 54 being comple mental in cross-sectional configuration. Thus, when the receptable 46 is mounted on the rail 54 with the latter passing through the bore 56, the receptacle is free to slide along the rail, but is prevented from rotating about the rail axis.

One of the important features common to all of the receptacles 10, 45 and 46 described above resides in the simplicity of construction and the ease of manufacture thereof. In the practice of the invention it has been found that excellent results are attained and receptacles are produced having characteristics of long life and economy where the receptacle is of unitary construction-preferably wherein it is molded from a suitable synthetic plastic material. The receptacle may be formed of a suitable thermosetting plastic material such, merely by way of example, as phenol-aldehyde resinoids and resins or the like of numerous commercially available types (e.g., Bakelite). Alternatively, the receptacle may be molded of a suitable thermoplastic material such as vinyl polymers and styrol resins. I have found, however, that particularly satisfactory results are obtained where the receptacle is formed of a polyamide, for example, a nylon.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hanger receptacle for supporting garment hangers and the like of the type having a support stem, said receptacle comprising a unitary hollow body and means for supporting said body from a fixed structural member, said body having vertical wall means and an integral bottom wall, at least one opening formed in said vertical wall means and communicating with the hollow interior of said body for permitting selective insertion and removal of the hanger support stem, and means formed on said body and projecting into said hollow interior for inhibiting accidental dislodgment of the hanger support stem.

2. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said vertical wall means substantially surrounds the hollow interior of said body, there being at least two openings formed in said wall means on respective opposite sides of the hollow body, said wall means together with said bottom wall and the openings formed in said wall means defining a cagelike hanger receptacle.

3. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the opening formed in said vertical wall means comprises a relatively narrow vertical slot dimensioned to permit insertion of and removal of the hanger support stem, the portion of said wall means defining the upper end of said slot diverging outwardly so as to form a relatively large mouth at the upper end of said slot for permitting passage of ball-type and Y type supports or the like commonly associated with the upper end of conventional hanger support stems.

4. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that a relatively narrow slot is formed in said bottom wall, said slot in said bottom wall defining a horizontal continuation of the relatively narrow vertical slot formed in said vertical wall means.

5. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said vertical slot lies in a first vertical plane intersecting said body, said vertical wall means having second and third openings formed therein on respective opposite sides of said body with said second and third openings lying in a second vertical plane normal to said first vertical plane, said wall means together with said bottom wall and the openings formed in said wall means defining a cagelike hanger receptacle.

6. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said vertical slot and the slot formed in said bottom wall lie in a first vertical plane intersecting said body, said vertical wall means having second and third openings formed therein on respective opposite sides of said body with said second and third openings lying in a second vertical plane normal to said first vertical plane, said wall means and the openings formed therein together with said bottom wall and the slot formed therein defining a cagelike hanger receptacle.

7. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said body supporting means comprises a head portion integral with said body, said head portion having an inverted frusto-pyramidal configuration adapted for slidable reception in a complementally shaped dovetail groove formed in the fixed structural member.

8. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said body supporting means comprises a head portion integral with said body, said head portion having a bore extending horizontally therethrough for permitting slid-able mounting of said receptacle on a fixed structural member formed of rod or tubular stock.

9. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that said head portion is provided with one of a tongue and groove extending longitudinally of :said bore and adapted for non-rotatable sliding engagement with the other of said tongue and groove formed LOH said rod or tubular stock.

10. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said body supporting means comprises a head portion integral with said body, said head portion having a semi-square bore extending horizontally 'therethrough for permitting non-rotatable slidable mounting of said receptacle on a fixed structural member :formed of complementally shaped rod or tubular stock.

11. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said means for inhibiting accidental :dislodgment of the hanger support stem comprises at least one horizontally disposed rib formed on said vertical wall means and spaced above said bottom wall.

12. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said means for inhibiting accidental dislodgment of the hanger support stern comprises at least two horizontally disposed ribs formed in said vertical wall means and spaced above said bottom wall.

13. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 12 further characterized in that said ribs lie in the same horizontal plane and are disposed on respective different sides of the opening in said vertical wall means.

14. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 12 further characterized in that said ribs are spaced vertically and lie in at least two horizontal planes.

15. A hanger receptacle for supporting garment hangers and the like of the type having a support stem, said receptacle having a head portion including means for securing said receptacle to a fixed structural member, and a. body portion integral with and depending from said head portion, said body portion having four generally vertical walls and a, bottom wall defining a hollow boxlike receptacle, two opposite ones of said vertical walls having openings therethrough for permitting selective insertion and removal of conventional rounded hanger support stems, a third one of said vertical walls having a relatively narrow vertical slot formed therein, the portions of said third wall defining the upper end of said slot diverging away from one another so as to form a relatively large mouth at the upper end of said slot for permitting passage of ball-type and Y type supports commonly associated with the upper end of the stem on conventional ball-type and Y type garment hangers, said bottom wall having a relatively narrow slot formed therein, said slot in said bottom wall defining a horizontal continuation of the relatively narrow vertical slot in said third wall so that when conventional ball-type and Y type garment hangers are suspended from said receptacle, the ball-type and Y type supports associated with the upper end of the hanger stem rest on said bottom wall within said hollow boxlike receptacle and the hanger stem passes downwardly through said slot in said bottom wall.

16. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 15 further characterized in that first horizontally disposed rib defining means are formed on the inner surface of said third wall on both sides of said vertical slot, said rib defining means being spaced above said bottom wall and projecting horizontally towards the fourth of said vertical walls, said rib defining means serving to partially overlie the ball-type and Y type hanger supports of suspended garment support hangers for the purpose of displacing such hanger supports rearwardly towards said fourth wall and away from said mouth when said hangers are accidentally displaced upwardly and thereby inhibiting accidental dislodgment of such hangers.

17. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 16 further characterized in that second horizontally disposed rib defining means are formed on the inner surface of said fourth wall and positioned so as to project toward said third wall.

18. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 17 further characterized in that third horizontally disposed rib defining means are formed on the inner surface of said third wall on both sides of said vertical slot, said third rib defining means being spaced above said first rib defining means and below said mouth.

19. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 15 further characterized in that said head and body portions comprise a unitary piece of molded synthetic plastic material.

20. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 19 further characterized in that said material comprises a thermoplastic material.

21. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 19 further characterized in that said material comprises a thermosetting plastic material.

22. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 20 further characterized in that said thermoplastic material comprises a nylon.

23. A hanger receptacle as set forth in claim 15 further characterized in that the upper end of said third wall slopes away from the vertical plane passing through and containing the lower end thereof and towards the fourth of said walls.

24. In garment suspension apparatus of the class having a fixed structural support member and at least one hanger receptacle slidably mounted on and suspended from said member, the combination with said member of an improved hanger receptacle having a hollow body portion and an integral head portion, said head portion including means for suspending said body portion from said member, said body portion having vertical wall means and an integral bottom wall, at least one opening formed in said vertical wall means and communicating with the hollow interior of said body portion for permitting selective insertion and removal of a hanger supporting stem, and means formed on said body portion and projecting into said hollow interior for inhibiting accidental dislodgment of the hanger supporting stem.

25. The combination as set forth in claim 24 further characterized in that said receptacle head portion has an inverted frusto-pyramidal configuration and said fixed structural support member has a downwardly facing, longitudinally extending dove-tail groove, said head portion being slidably mounted in said groove.

26. The combination as set forth in claim 24 fur ther characterized in that said receptacle head portion has a bore extending horizontally therethrough and said fixed structural support member comprises an elongate member of round tubular or rod stock, said member passing through said bore so as to slidably support said receptacle.

27. The combination as set forth in claim 26 further 25 wall of said head portion and a complemental longitudinally extending groove is formed on the other of said member and the bore defining wall of said head portion, said tongue and groove mutually coacting to preclude rotation of said receptacle relative to said member while permitting relative longitudinal sliding movement therebetween.

28. The combination as set forth in claim 24 further characterized in that said receptacle head portion has a semi-square bore extending horizontally therethrough and said fixed structural support member comprises an elongate member of tubular or rod stock, said member having a semi-square cross section complemental to said bore and passing through said bore so as to support said receptacle with freedom for longitudinal sliding movement While simultaneously precluding relative rotation therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,863,164 12/1958 Schesvold 1687.4

3,157,907 12/1964 Stall 1687.4 3,313,424 4/1967 Gingher 2111l3 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HANGER RECEPTACLE FOR SUPPORTING GARMENT HANGERS AND THE LIKE OF THE TYPE HAVING A SUPPORT STEM, SAID RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A UNITARY HOLLOW BODY AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BODY FROM A FIXED STRUCTURAL MEMBER, SAID BODY HAVING VERTICAL WALL MEANS AND AN INTEGRAL BOTTOM WALL, AT LEAST ONE OPENING FORMED IN SAID VERTICAL WALL MEANS AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE HOLLOW INTERIOR OF SAID BODY FOR PERMITTING SELECTIVE INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF THE HANGER SUPPORT STEM, AND MEANS FORMED ON SAID BODY AND PROJECTING INTO SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR FOR INHIBITING ACCIDENTAL DISLODGMENT OF THE HANGER SUPPORT STEM. 